**Executive Summary:**
This document addresses air pollution in the Delhi NCR region, focusing on stubble burning in Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. It outlines measures taken by the Indian government to mitigate air pollution caused by stubble burning, including a comprehensive framework by the CAQM, financial assistance for crop residue management, and the establishment of pelletization plants. The document also notes a decrease in stubble-burning incidents in Punjab and Haryana between 2021 and 2024.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **Causes of Air Pollution:**
* Air pollution in Delhi NCR is due to multiple factors: vehicular pollution, industrial pollution, construction and demolition dust, road dust, biomass burning, and municipal solid waste burning.
* Stubble burning is a significant contributor, particularly during October and November.
* Winter conditions exacerbate pollution due to lower temperatures, mixing heights, temperature inversion, and stagnant winds.
* **Government Measures:**
* The CAQM has developed a framework for controlling crop residue burning, involving various state governments and stakeholders.
* The MoAFW provides subsidies for crop residue management machinery and supports the establishment of crop residue supply chains.
* An Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) monitors and prevents stubble burning.
* The MoPNG offers financial assistance for biomass aggregation equipment to produce Compressed Biogas.
* The CPCB provides financial support for pelletization and torrefaction plants.
* CAQM directs coal-based thermal power plants to co-fire biomass pellets with coal.
* CAQM directs State Governments of Punjab and Haryana to mandate use of paddy strawbased biomass pellets briquettes in all brick kilns located in the districts beyond NCR
* The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change issued the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Imposition, Collection and Utilization of Environmental Compensation for Stubble Burning Amendment Rules, 2024 for levying Environmental Compensation on the stubble burning incidents
* **Stubble Burning Reduction:**
* Paddy Stubble Burning events have reduced by 84.70 and 79.87 respectively in Punjab and Haryana in year 2024 when compared with year 2021.
**Impact Analysis:**
* **Farmers in Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh:**
* *Impact:* Subject to regulations and potential environmental compensation for stubble burning. Beneficiaries of subsidy schemes for crop residue management machinery.
* *Action Required:* Adopt alternative crop residue management practices, utilize available subsidies, and comply with environmental regulations to avoid penalties.
* **State Governments of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan; Government of NCT of Delhi:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for implementing the CAQM framework and state-specific action plans.
* *Action Required:* Develop and enforce action plans, collaborate with stakeholders, and monitor stubble burning incidents.
* **Coal-Based Thermal Power Plants (within 300 km radius of Delhi):**
* *Impact:* Required to co-fire biomass pellets with coal.
* *Action Required:* Implement co-firing practices and procure biomass pellets.
* **Brick Kilns (in districts beyond NCR in Punjab and Haryana):**
* *Impact:* Mandated to use paddy straw-based biomass pellets/briquettes.
* *Action Required:* Transition to using biomass pellets/briquettes.
* **Compressed Biogas Producers:**
* *Impact:* Eligible for financial assistance for biomass aggregation equipment.
* *Action Required:* Procure biomass aggregation equipment and utilize financial assistance.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: The Indian government ministry responsible for environmental protection and climate change policies.
Punjab: A state in northern India, significantly impacted by stubble burning.
Haryana: A state in northern India, significantly impacted by stubble burning.
Delhi: A city and union territory in India, significantly impacted by air pollution from stubble burning.
Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas CAQM: A commission responsible for formulating strategies to combat air pollution in the National Capital Region and surrounding areas.
Ministry of Agriculture Farmers Welfare MoAFW: The Indian government ministry responsible for agriculture and farmers' welfare, involved in schemes for crop residue management.
National Capital Region NCR: A special planning region centered upon Delhi, India. It is significantly affected by air pollution.
Uttar Pradesh: A state in northern India, specifically its NCR districts, are impacted by paddy stubble burning.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2358
TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.08.2025
Check on Stubble Burning
2358. KUMARI SELJA:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) the main reasons of air pollution in the areas around Punjab, Haryana, Delhi,
Chandigarh in North India;
(b) whether the stubble burning by farmers is the main reason for the increasing air
pollution or is there any other reason as well and if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has made any plan to control air pollution and check on
stubble burning; and
(d) if so, the details and outcomes thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) & (b):
Air pollution in Delhi - National Capital Region (NCR) is a collective result of multiple factors
including high level of anthropogenic activities in the high-density populated areas in NCR,
arising from various sectors viz. Vehicular Pollution, Industrial Pollution, Dust from
Construction & Demolition activities, Road Dust, Biomass Burning, Municipal Solid Waste
burning etc. During winter months, lower temperature, lower mixing heights, temperature
inversion conditions and stagnant winds lead to trapping of the pollutants resulting in high
pollution in the region. Stubble or biomass burning after harvesting is also one of the main
reasons for the increasing air pollution in Delhi- NCR during winter season. Incidences of
paddy stubble burning in the northern states of Punjab, Haryana, NCR districts of UP and other
areas in NCR are a matter of concern and impact the air quality in the NCR, particularly in the
period during October and November.
(c) & (d):
The Government has undertaken various measures to mitigate air pollution caused due to
stubble burning, which are mentioned below:
A Comprehensive Framework has been prepared by Commission for Air Quality
Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) for control
/elimination of crop residue burning, based on discussions held with the state
governments of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Government of NCT of
Delhi, State Pollution Control Board of NCR States and Delhi Pollution Control
Committee (DPCC) and various stakeholders viz. Indian Space Research Organization
(ISRO), Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR), Indian Agriculture ResearchInstitute (IARI). Accordingly, NCR states have been directed to draw up detailed state-
specific action plans based on the major contours of the framework
Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW) in 2018 launched scheme for
providing subsidy for purchase of crop residue management machinery and
establishment of custom hiring centres (CHCs) in NCT of Delhi and the States of Punjab,
Haryana and Uttar Pradesh for in-situ management of paddy straw. MoA&FW in 2023
revised guidelines under the scheme to support establishment of crop residue/paddy straw
supply chain, by providing financial assistance on the capital cost of machinery and
equipment.
An Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) has been constituted in December, 2023 under
the chairmanship of Special Secretary, MoA&FW for convergence of scheme of
Schemes/Initiatives supporting Ex-situ management of paddy straw. The IMC holds
regular meetings with State Governments for effective monitoring and prevention of
stubble burning incidents in these states.
Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) has launched a scheme to provide
financial assistance to Compressed Bio-gas producers for procurement of biomass
aggregation equipment for ex-situ management of paddy straw.
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has framed Guidelines for grant of one-time
financial support under Environment Protection Charge funds for establishment of
pelletization and Torrefaction plants to promote utilisation of paddy straw.
CAQM has issued directions to all the Coal based Thermal Power Plants located within
300 Kms radius of Delhi to co-fire biomass based pellets, torrefied pellets/ briquettes (upto
5-10%) with coal to promote use of biomass.
CAQM has issued directions to State Governments of Punjab and Haryana to mandate use
of paddy straw-based biomass pellets / briquettes in all brick kilns located in the districts
beyond NCR, as one of the means towards elimination of the practice of open paddy
stubble burning.
In order to deter Paddy straw burning in the agriculture fields, this Ministry, vide
notification no. G.S.R. 690(E) dated 06.11.2024, has issued the Commission for Air
Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas (Imposition,
Collection and Utilization of Environmental Compensation for Stubble Burning)
Amendment Rules, 2024 for levying Environmental Compensation on the stubble burning
incidents.
Due to the efforts made by all stakeholders, continuous decrease has been observed in Paddy
Stubble Burning events in Punjab & Haryana. The number of such events for the states of
Punjab and Haryana during harvesting season 15th September to 30th November for 2021-24 is
given below.
State 2021 2022 2023 2024
Punjab 71304 49922 36663 10909
Haryana 6987 3661 2303 1406
The above status shows that Paddy Stubble Burning events have reduced by 84.70 % and 79.87
% respectively in Punjab and Haryana in year 2024 when compared with year 2021.
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